Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788 - 1824) was among the most famous of the English 'Romantic' poets. In addition he was a satirist whose poetry and personality captured the imagination of Europe. His major works include Childe Harold

Poem:

We sat down and wept by the waters Of Babel, and thought of the day
When our foe, in the hue of his slaughters,
Made Salem's high places his prey;
And ye, oh her desolate daughters!
Were scattered all weeping away.
2
While sadly we gazed on the river
Which rolled on in freedom below,
They demanded the song; but, oh never
That triumph the stranger shall know!
May this right hand be withered for ever,
Ere it string our high harp for the foe!
3
On the willow that harp is suspended,
Oh Salem! its sound should be free;
And the hour when thy glories were ended
But left me that token of thee:
And ne'er shall its soft tones be blended
With the voice of the spoiler by me!